July 6, 2025
First Mennonite Church
Sugarcreek, Ohio
July 6, 2025
Worship: 9:30 – 10:30
Fellowship Time: 10:30 – 12:00
We believe in Jesus and take his life, teachings, death and resurrection
as the model for how we live and the message we proclaim.
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We seek to be a caring and discerning community, the gathered body of Christ that welcomes all to join in worship, study, and service.
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We embody God’s transforming and redeeming Spirit in the world
through our prophetic witness and action.
THE CHURCH WORSHIPS TOGETHER
Anabaptism at 500
“The Courage to Love” -Service of Reconciliation
Grossmunster Church, Zurich, Switzerland
May 29, 2025, 5 p.m.
Part Two
“Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,
which is Jesus Christ.”
~Gathering in the Sanctuary, Left Side~
PROCESSION: “Holy God We Praise Thy Name”
Organ introduction
Violin solo
Soprano solo – vs. 1 English
Congregation - vs. 2 English
vs. 1 German
Organ interlude
Congregation – vs. 2 German
Organ conclusion
Welcome and Announcements: Worship Leader – Suzanne Stauffer
Prayers of the People:
(congregation responds, “Lord, hear our prayer or
“Lord, hear our praise”)
Ending Prayer
Creator of Light, thank you for gathering us to this place of worship in the light of this day. Scatter the darkness from our hearts and minds.
May your light comfort the hearts and minds of all who grieve this day…
May your light heal the minds and bodies of all who struggle with illness…
May your light illumine the hearts of minds of all who serve devotedly in the name of Christ…
May your light shine forth with joy for all who praise you. Send forth your light of healing and peace into all the world, we pray, in the name of Jesus, the light of the world. Amen
Reconciliation: The Work Of Our Anabaptist Faith
“Jesus is the center of our faith.
Community is the center of our lives.
Reconciliation is the center of our work.”
-Palmer Becker
THE COURAGE TO LOVE WITHIN THE WOUNDED BODY OF CHRIST: Janet Plenert, Mennonite World Conference
Celebrating Our Journey toward Reconciliation with the Catholic Church: Anne-Cathy Graber, MWC, and the Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity (reading a letter from Pope Leo XIV)
Celebrating Our Journey toward Reconciliation with the Lutheran World Federation: Larry Miller, MWC, and Anne Burghardt, general secretary Lutheran World Federation
Celebrating Our Journey toward Reconciliation with the World
Communion of Reformed Churches: J. Nelson Kraybill, MWC; John
D. Roth, MWC; Hanns Lessing, Executive Secretary for Communion
and Theology WCRC;
FOOTWASHING: Cesar Garcia, MWC, and Setri Nyomi, Interim
General Secretary WCRC.
(Note—the litany read during the service of footwashing is drawn from
the recent MWC-WCRC statement, “Restoring Our Family to
Wholeness: Seeking a Common Witness”
CONFESSING OUR FAITH TOGETHER: The Nicene Creed (each in your own language)
(Note—When Mennonites began to write confessions of faith in the
sicteenth century, all started with God as Trinity in harmony with the
Nicene Creed. But Mennonites also included a commitment to
following the teaching and example of Jesus as an essential part of the
Christian way. Now, in this 1700 th anniversary year of the Nicene
Creed, Mennonites, with renewed commitment to discipleship, join the
universal body of Christ in praising Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.)
All Read Together: We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eernally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the
Father; through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly
human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he
suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in
accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is
seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to
judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds
from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and
glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
SONG: “In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful/El Senor es mi Fortaleza”
Violin introduction
Congregation – vs. 1 Catalan (2x)
vs. 2 Espanol (1x)
humming in unison with violin
unison in various languages (2x)
English (2x)
LITANY FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS: “The Courage to Love in a Troubled World” – Lisa Carr-Pries, Danisa Nalovu, MWC
(with organ interlude)
PRAYER: Nancy Heisey, MWC
SONG: “We Want Peace”
Introduction keyboard
Congregation: Chorus English
Solo: German
Congregation: Chorus English
Solo: French
Congregation: Chorus English
Interlude Keyboard
Bridge
Men - Verse English
Women join English
Congregation: Chorus English (3x)
Outro – English
GOING FORTH WITH COURAGE AND LOVE: a Litany of Thanksgiving (Congregation responds with “Thanks be to God!”)
SONG: “Ehre sei Gott/Grosse Doxologie”
Organ Introduction
Congregation sings in German
CLOSING BLESSING:
Leader: As we go from here, Almighty One, set us on the path
toward your kingdom.
People: We heed your call!
Leader: Wherever you send us, let your perfect love cast out our
fear.
People: We got forth in confidence!
Leader: Come, Holy Spirit, inspire us with the faithfulness of
saints through the ages.
People: We follow their example!
Leader: Go forth, sisters and brothers, in the name of the Father,
and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen
RECESSIONAL: “Siyahamba”
Introduction: Drums and guitar
Benediction
WORSHIP 9:30-10:30
Worship Leader: Suzanne Stauffer
Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer
Head Usher: Mike Keim
Our On-Going Series on Anabaptist Beliefs:
In 2018 Lisa Weaver and Elizabeth Miller, as part of the Bearing Witness Stories project, wrote a book for children entitled Let the
Children Come to Me: Nurturing Anabaptist Faith within Families.
“The materials gathered together in this book beautifully
illustrate the central convictions of the Anabaptist tradition.”
-John D. Roth, Director of the Institute for the
Study of Global Anabaptism
As residents of Holmes and Tuscarawas counties, oftentimes we each have been asked, “Are Mennonites Amish?” and “What do you believe that’s different from other Protestant denominations?” It’s sometimes
hard to come up with an explanation of our faith. Hopefully this series of worship services (that will be spread out through this year of Anabaptism at 500) will enable us to answer these questions more accurately. We are basing this series on the above-mentioned book.
In conjunction with our Anabaptist at Five Hundred celebration this year, we would love to have pictures of any community, service and/or peace experiences our church members have experienced over the years. Please give to April or Tabby who will scan them into the computer. You will get them back.
FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER
Mission Project #1 for June/July: Dress A Child
As one school year ends, this program looks forward to the new 2025-26 school year. Giving our students who attend school in Tuscarawas County a fresh new set of clothes to begin the year is a wonderful blessing. Dress A Child raises money to serve the children in our county whose families meet the federal poverty guidelines. Last year, they were able to give 980 children $85.00 worth of new clothing! Make checks payable to First Mennonite, and one check will be sent at the end of the month from our church to Dress A Child. Thank you!
“Life is good when you are happy; but much better when
others are happy because of you.” -Pope Francis
Mission Project #2 for June/July: MCC My Coins Count Relief Sale Project
Each year, spare change (and bills!) collected by families and churches adds up to more than $600,000 toward MCC’s work around the world. Your coins count! When you give to MCC, you’re sending hope to families in the form of food, water and/or education. We will collect through the last Sunday of June. Drop your coins, bills and/or checks in the bread basket on the table in the rear of the sanctuary. Make checks payable to First Mennonite, and Buce will send one check from our church to the MCC Ohio Relief Sale held in Mt. Hope on July 11th-12h.
THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR
Dan Hostetler: Prayers for Amy’s sister who lost her son from heart issues.
Amy Hostetler: A dear friend’s son has passed, prayers for his family and friends.
Sue Stauffer: A friend from the Model T group is dying, please keep Bret and Nancy in your prayers.
THIS WEEK
July 10th Happy Birthday, Bertie Showers
July 11th – 12th Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale at Mt. Hope Event Center
July 12th Happy Anniversary, Nikki and TJ Bahler
July 13th Winklepleck Grove Service and Picnic
NEXT WEEK
Text:
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Dan Hostetler
Head Usher: Mike Keim
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 20th Church Visitation Sunday
(Visit a church of your choice—No morning service at FMC)
LAST WEEK
Attendance: 17
Offering: $640
Change for a dollar: $7.24
My Coins Count: $206.03
Dress A Child: $100
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Pastor: Mike Gehman: 1-330-749-674
Email: pastor@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com
Pastor’s Hours: Wednesday 9:30a.m.-2:30p.m
Church Secretary: Tabatha Murphy
Phone: 1-330-852-2822
Email: office@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com
Website: http//fmcsugarcreekoh.org
Address: 113 W. Main St. P.O. Box 250 Sugarcreek, Ohio 44681
CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM:
Chairperson: Mike Keim
Office Contact: Linda Yoder
Mission Contact: Reno Stevanus
Trustees Contact: Dan Hostetler
Secretary Contact: Amy Stauffer-McNutt
